1918-07-25 — Page 5

Page

THE

WAR.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, JULY 25mm, 1015

FRENCH OPEN A NEW ATTACK.

CAPTURE VILLAGES AND ADVANCE FOUR MILES.

AMERICANS CROSS MARNE AND SEIZE TOWNS.

ZEEBRUGGE HEROES DECORATED.

OPERATIONS IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Franco-Belgian Front.

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.).

THE BRITISH FRONT,

POSITIONS IMPROVED.

LONDON, July 23rd.

1.35, p.m. Field-Marshal Sir Douglas, Haig re- ports:-Wę advanced our line slightly yesterday southward of Merris and Meteren, and southward of Hebnterne.

We improved our positions at night in the Hamel sector:

POWERFUL GERMAN COUNTER-

ATTACK.

PARIS, July 23rd. A communique stutes The Germans to-day attempted by powerful counter- altacks to arrest our progress between the Marue and the Ourcq.

The French and Americans resisted all assaults and accentuated progress,

We passed the heights east of La Croix Griselles and captured the village of Pieds.

ENEMY PREPARING FOR FURTHER RETREAT.

LONDON July 22nd.:

10.55 p.m.

EARLIER CABLES.

THROUGH HAVAS AGENCY.] COMPULSORY GERMAN RETIREMENT.

The region north-north-east of this

Beuter's Correspondent at French Headquarters reports this afternoon

Panis, July 2nd... North of the Marne the enemy is pre- Havas Agency states --Following the paring for a further retreat in the angle recrossing of the Marne by the Germans between the Marne and the Ardre, and is

оп Friday night, victory was Won blowing up munition dumps and burning yesterday, when the Crown Prince's stores which he has no time to remove. The forces were compelled, in order to avert enemy's position in heavily-wooded and disaster, le rotire precipitately from broken country without main roads and Chatean Thierry which city was re railways which he can use is becoming, occupied by the Allied tops at day.. under the constant Allied pressure, more break. difficult every hour. The enemy, to, feed his Soissons-Marne front, has only one line of railway from the Aisne in the neighbourhood of Bourge to Bazocités, where it joins the main line from Bois sons to Rheins.

FRENCH REGAIN OLD FRONT LINE.

LONDON, July 23rd.

2.10 am. The latest reports of the fighting on the Western Front this afternom show that, despite strong resistance, the French continue to register advances at

We gained ground north-east of Montmany places. They crossed the Marne at

two places. St. Pere.

in

Between the Marne and Rheims hard

Yesterday's operations

pince has been cleared to the extent of from three to four miles.

Naval Activities.

LATEST CABLES. [THROUGH BETTER'S AGENCY.] ECHOES OF ZEEBRUGGE. AWARDS OF VICTORIA GROSS.

General.

LATEST CABLES.

[TREOUGH REUTER'S AGENCY ) REASON FOR

AUSTRIAN

CABINET'S RESIGNATION.

Loss, July 22nd.

LONDON, Julyard.. Echoes of the stirring events at Zee.

The resignation of the Austrian Cabinet. brugge on the night of April 2nd-23rd.

was due to the refusal of Dr. Seidler, are contained" in the Güzelte announcing accede to the demands of the Poles and. supported by the Gerina · Austrians, "to the awards of various decorations to the Blays, who form the mujority in the participants.

Reichsrat. The defeat on the Piave, the The Victoria Cross is awarded to the German, failure on the Mare, and the following: --

conomic distress in Austria were also

Commander · Carpenter, Commanding factors. the Findictive, for setting a magnificent OATH - OF exemple of calm composure in navigating mined waters and reaching the mole in

CIVIL

ALLEGIANCE BY

SERVANTS.

LONDON, July 2nd.

Marching ahead, with an even sequence of steerss, indicating excellent organisa-the darkness, then in supervising the tion, the Allies again, gained important landing in face of a heavy bre From Law stated that the Glovertiment is pre- In the House of Commons, Mr. Bontr atretches of ground, and, in addition to batteries, machine-guns anil rifles,

Hepared to require an oath of allegiance winning back Chateau Thierry, made a

walked round the dreks encouraging the front persons entering the Civil Service considerable advance on both flauks in the

men in the most dangerous and exposed in future. Soissons-Marne-Rheims salient.

positions.

Foch's

On the left Generalissimo troops pushed well ahead and astride the Ourcq, and reached the Soissons-Chateau Thierry high road, the main link of communication für von Bochm's aranics, which will now have to rely on two or a mile or 50 three third-rate ronds

Lieutenant Saudford, submarine C4, for skillfully placing his vessel betwee the piles of the viaduct.

He and his Crew eagerly undertook the hazardous enterprise, well knowing that if they were not in the water at the moment of the explosion, they would be killed out- right. Lieut. Sandford disdained to use

resulted We successfully raided in the neigh.fighting proved resultless for the enemy, the French capturing 1,000 prisoners be bourhoods af Ablainze-Ville, Ayette, Oppy, Avion and Lens, taking several prisoners and machine guns. As a result

We hold our lines in the Courton and tween the 'Aisne and the Marne, while further back. The main railway line of the gyro for steering, which would have

Roi Woods.

The British farther north advanced. of & patrol encounter at Merris we captaking 200-prisoners and 40 machine- tored prisoners and killed 50.

There was considerable hostile gas shelling at Villers-Bretonneux and reci procal artillery firing in the Dickebush

sector.

GERMAN REPORT.

Losboy, July 22nd,

12.30 am.

guns.

There was great artillery, activity bat no infantry action north of the Oureg and in Champagne.

AERIAL ACTIVITY.

the British captured 350 prisoners and four guns around Marfaux.

The Germans in retreating from the

south of the Marne abandoned. 46 guns,

bringing the total to 460 guns exptured

in the Allied counter-offensive.

East of Rheims several enemy attacks were repulsed, except north of Perthes, where the cigmy gained a little ground,

supply is also uniter fire,

At many points the advance is several miles,

enabled him and his crew to abandon the despite the tremendous efforts of therine at a safe-distance preferring Germans to hold it. The value of this success will be more apparent with the development of the operations.

CONDITIONS AT ZEEBRUGGE.

AMSTERDAM, July 23rd.” The repairs to the Zecingge harbour, mote and locks are constantly being" destroyed by the Allied airmen, It is even reported that two torpedo-bonts in- the harbour were recently sturk. The Canal remains closed,

Inosi The French regained their old front line position from the troops told off to avoid embarking the crews from the blockships should suffice to consider the Conference's

Our bombing squadrons were. netive on July 21st, despite the weather. They dropped during the day and night

between Suippes and Massigcs.

GERMAN RETREAT MAY TURN. INTO A ROUT.

The Germans are compelling the 'Bel- gians from the surrounding districts to work at Zeebrugge and on the Mole. THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. to make sure as far as it was humanly

LONDON, July 23rd. possible of accomplishing their daty. The Jarning Pouf states that the imperial. Lieutenant of Naval Reserve Dean, Conference has been sitting morning and On the right, between the Marne und Commander of motor launch 24 for afternoon during the past few days, and Bleins, the Allies met with force op magnificently handling his boat whilst is hoped to finish business on July 28th. A few sittings of the Imperial Cabinet the complete disaster that would befall under a constant and deadly machine decisions, after which it is expected that the Crown Prince's armies if the defence gan and heavy-gun fire at point-blank the Representatives will arrange for their broke down on this flank, but. neverthe-range. His steering gear broke down, but early return to the Dominions. Already Jess; the British, with their French and be manœuvred his boat by the engines, the Canadians, Mr. Meighan and Mr. Italian comrades, made an appreciable avoiding destruction by steering so close Manitoba, and Saskatchewan have return- Culder, and the Premiers of Alberta, advance in the difficult country of Mon under the mole that the guns of the shore ed to Canada. tagne-de-Rheims, especially in the Ardre batteries could not sufficiently depress to Sir Robert Borden last week visited the valley.

fire at his boat. His courage and duringthree Canadian Camps, and was much

ved many valuable lives,

impressed by the fine marching of the regiment of French Canadiane, who had been in training only one pay,

In order to better realize the im. portance of the success won by the Allied

wireless German official report 50 tons of bombs on communications, states:We repulsed English attacks berantogments and bivouacs in the Vesle

LONDON, July 23rd. taveen Beaumont and Haniel, also cast

and Ardre valleys. The stations at Laón,

16.10 am. ward and south-eastward of Hebuterne. Fismes, Berryaubac, ate, and Fere-en- Though the obstinate struggle is deepen

The enemy's attacks against Soissons Tardenois, choked with troops and coning and extending, the news continues from the south-west collapsed.

voys, were especially bombed. An im- most favourable for the Allies. The Ger- mense confiagration followed and several mans have not yet recovered from their explosions were observed, Another fire surprise and confusion and have given broke out at the station at Fismes, Tens no sign of attempting a diversion clergens, it may be interesting to reall of thousands of machine-gun estridges where on the Marne. Their energies are clus articles published by the German were fired on German troops and batteriesing concentrated on defensive fighting Press Iefore the Allied counter-offensive. in the region of Courant, Rouderes aud and a series of desperate rearguard

In the Berliner Tageblatt, General von Villeneuve, German batteries, which actions, in the hope of extricating the Ardenne emphasised the fact that there were most active, were silenced.

bulk of their forces from the clutches of

was, no fear of the issue, and that the nine the Allies, who are advancing simultano-

establishment of the Germans south of ously from three points of the compues the Marne might be considered definitive. tained a continuous fire from the foreton, Their position, which is critical, vies

The military editor of the Deutsche keeping down the enemy's destructive with the relentless pressure maintained

"heavies

BARLIER CABLES.

HOSTILE ARTILLERY. FIRING:

LONDON, July 22nd. 11.00 p.m. Field-Marshal Sir Donglas Haig ro ports:--There

hostile artillery firing southward of Arras and castward of Niejne Forest.

was

AERIAL OPERATIONS.

A-strong west wind and low clouds on Sunday almost prevented dying, but on small part of the front various targets wire bonbed, including a railway station. A dirget hit wis obtained on munition train.

nn 401-

Five hostile machines were brought down. Four British machines are mis- sing

Our night-fliers were able to raid on the balk of the front. They dropped 13 tong of bombs on railways at Seelin, Menin, Lille, and Cambraj,

LATEST CABLES.

FRENCH FRONT.

BOLD FRENCH OPERATION.

"Panis, July 23rd..

A communiqué states:There was only artillery aring at night-time on the entire battle front

North of Monididier a boldly conduct- ed local operation enabled us to occupy. the villages Mailly Rainval, Sauvillers and Aubyillers.

We Captured 350 prisoners.

LATER. An attack was made at 8:15 this morn: ing. We advanced a mile within an

Our pilots on July 21st felled enemy machines,

AMERICANS OCCUPY TOWNS.

LONDON, July 23rd.

7.20 a.m.

An American communiqué, issued yes terday, stated:Co-operating with the French, we continued to advance ́andl crossed the Soissons÷Chateau“ Thierry road between the Qure and Clignon, renching the road Beau Epicds--Char-

teves.

We crossed the Mame and-occupied towns, the condition of which shows they had been abandoned in great haste.

GERMAN REPORTS.

LONDON, July 22nd.

12.30a.m. A wireless German official report states:-The encany seven times attacked Soissons-Chateau Thiefry road.

Captain Bamford, Marine Infantry, who commanded one of the landing com- panies, and established a strong pointed at each camp that the men now arriy- Sir Robert Borden stated he had learn- He led an assault on a battery with the ing from Cannda are making wonderful

utmost coolness and valour.

progress.

Sergeant Finch, Marine Artillery, of Cardiff to-morrow.

Sir Robert Borden receives the freedom second in command of the pom-poms and Lewis guns on the Findictive. He main

Enfortunately, two

by Generalissinio Foch, which may stille Zeitung stated that the French fre

must definitely give up all hope of directly hit the fureton, killing and dis- making the German troops recress the

turn the retreat into a rout. To avoid

enemy

this, experts are of opinion that the Dust draw still more largely from his reserves, probably from the forces facing the British front.

Marne

The German papers to-day must regret publishing such articles, which prove that the Imperial troops have suffered a severe defeat.

Unless he receives such help it will be impossible for the enemy to cross the 24 miles of rugged country to the north The Near East. bank of the Aisne, including the crossing

LATEST CABLES. of the rivers Ourcq, Vesle and the Aisme.

(THROUGH RELTER'S AGENCY.]· Two very important points which the Allies from the west will endeavour to THE OPERATIONS IN reach, in order to cut off the Germans,

MESOPOTAMIA HEAVY TURKISH CASUALTIES. Fere-en-Tardenoir, which is the im junction of the roads, and portant Fismes. The ruggedness of the country

LONDON, July 22nd. between the Marne and Rheims accounts In the House of Commons, Lord Robert for the desperation of the fighting there. Cecil stated that the operations by Gea- enabling the Germans to prolong their defence

eral Marshal on the Euphrates in March Correspondents on the French Front and in the neighbourhood of Kirkuk in express the greatest admiration for the Spirit of the British in this region, who April resulted in the casualtying of insisted upon attacking immediately they 10,000 Turks, including 7,500 prison- arrived, though opposing Germans who ers, also the capture of 30 guns and much included a shack.

k" division, with other war material. Without being disturbed we withdrew ground most favourable for machine-gun our defences northward and north-west-defence

Aerial Activities. ward of Chateau Thierry...

The inactivity of the infantry north-of An English and Franco Italian attack the area and in Champagne yesterday

EARLIER CABLES. between the Marne and north of the is semi-oficially ascribed in Paris to the Ardre failed.

{THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY:]/

RAIDING IN

His assault north-westward of Har tennes broke down.

We drove him back south-westward at Hartennes

We held our positions north westward of Chateau Thierry against repeated

American attacks.

states:-French

attacks

LATER.

between the

enormous German losses, the extent of which is calculable from the fact that

were

BRITISH A German evening official report in front of General Gouraud's army alone 50,000 Germans were put out of action by hundreds of guns, which masked only when the assaulting waves crossed the covering zone and approached the real line of resistance.

Praise

abling everybody except Finch, who, severely wounded, nevertheless showed. consummate bravery by remaining in the battered and exposed position and again getting the Lewis gun into action and harassing the enemy on the mole until the foretop was again directly hit, com- pletely putting out of action the remain. der of the armament, but Finch had saved many valuable lives.

Able-Seaman McKenzie, who did great extention with a machine gun as a mem ter of a storming party on the mole

Commander Carpenter, Captain Bam- ford, Sergt. Finch, and Seaman Mc Kenzie were selected by their comrades to receive the Victoria Crosz. Italian bront

LATEST CABLES. (THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] BRITISH RAIDS AT ASIAGO

LONDON, July 22nd.

12.30 am A British Italian official report states: We carried out three raids westward

of Asiago, killing 50 and capturing 24

prisoners

Marquis of Londonderry to-morrow, at Mr. W. M. Hughes is the guest of the a dinner at the Savoy, to meet the leaders of capital and labour.

SUNKEN DREADNOUGHT. DARING ITALIAN EXPLOIT

Into the Wolf's jaws!!! was the Pellegrini and his three comrades pushed parting ary with which Commander

off in their best from the side of their escort and pitched away across a rongh Бед in the darkness towards the inner. harbour of Pola to torpedo an Austrian battleship there. It was at a mile and a half from the breakwater and at 2.15 a.m. that the convoying flotilla hove to. They had met no Austrian craft on the way. across the Adriatic. Only a large search- light kept watch seaward. As the creww of the escort strained their eyes after the boat with its four men and torpėdoes. none of them dared to hope that any of. win through this dangerous errand with the gallant little raiding party would their lives. The boat vanished, and for an hour the waiting escort lad no sign.

At last a single cannon shot crashed out ashore. The Italian craft had succeeded. in getting past all the booms that proteel the harbour and had been discovered. Af the same time as the dlarni gun the de stroyers heard two unmistakable thods of bursting torpedoce. At once every const battery burst into furious firing. Machine- guns added to the din, and forty search- lights springing to life combined their dazzling rays to flood the harbour, beyond the boots with light. To the watching escort Pola breakwater stood out like a bar of ebony against the brilliant lake of silver radiance. Then from the midst of confusion of the hombardment and illu mination soared up suddenly two rockets. They came from the boat that was the caps) and object of the enemy's alarm, "have torpedoed a second meant,

Escape impossible;, aшк Clear off and leave us? sinking

however, the escort delay. Leding

signal for

We destroyed 17 aircraft since July The first 39 & prea:

hour and captured the villages Aubvil-Aisne and the Marne failed.

GERMANY. lers, Sauviller, and Mongival, and Frosh fighting developed last evening

LONDON, July 23rd. reached the crest of Mailly-Raineval.

between the Aisne and the Cureq

The Air Ministry announce: We drop LONDON, July 22nd.

is lavished in Paris on the ped a ton of bombs on railway sidings| 18th. FRENCH ADVANCE ONE MILE.

11.25 p.m. prescience and strategy of Generalissimo at Lunes. A wireless German official report Foch, also

We attacked the Badische Aniline Fac General Fayolle, to whom upon states-Sunday's fighting resulted in a Generalissimo Foch

LONDON, July 23rd,

3.15 p.m.

The

large explosion was caused at the

South eastward of Zwiebrucken we

completa enccess for the Germans. The tion of his plans. Generals Mangin and and a hry good bursts were observed, The French opened a new attack north-enemy attacks south-westward of Boissons de Goutti are in command of the two factory.

and south-westward of Hartennes broke armies under General Favolle of being bombed tires aerodromes. Low-fliers hit west of Montdidier and advanced a mile down. We threw back the enemy northed along a certain distance astride and brought to a standstill five trains,

Latter fre

capable Ward at

defeated an

Ville Motult not

astride Oulchy the Bazoches, but the

junction there is and bombed and machine-gunned search- le Chateau.

The Germans lights and anti-aircraft guns All re being constantly bombed Strong enemy attacks northward and must find it very dificult to use the turned It is not yet cortain whether this renorth-eastward of Chateau Thierry broke limited railway facilities remaining, and We attacked on Monday an important down, with heavy losses Must the enemy may passibly fall back on the powder factory at Rottwell, hitting a big presents the total length and front of We sanguinarily repulsed British and Velse line, abandoning the Crise and the shed, with the result that several others French Forces between the Marne and the commanding plateau separating the Crise blew up. The fire was seen for sixty she attack.

Ardre.

and Vesle valleys,

miles. All returned.

on a front of four miles. They captured three villages,

EARLIER CABLES...

ALBANIAN OPERATIONS. FRENCH CARRY AUSTRIAN POSITIONS.

LONDON, July 22nd. 11.55 p.m. A French Eastern communiqué states: Northward of the Devoli eur troops dashingly carried Austrian positions backed by the river Holta and captured 100 prisoners;

and the

tre and was attacked mCHIP-

while by eight Austrian seaplanes. Seven Italian seaplanes arrived and shot down. three of the enemy after & fight which Tested an hour. At last the flotilla came anay. Its errand was accomplished, bat the four good men who carried it out had been left. Good news has since come that Pellegrini and one other ate prison ers, and meanwhile, though certain con- strong reason to believe that an Austrian firmation is not yet obtainable, there is battleship lies on the bottom, sunk at her moorings.